Chapter Fourteen

Jemima's POV

It had been a few weeks since the big blow-up between Kaylee and Jamie. Things were very uncomfortable in the house.

Mike and I were sitting in the living room, tuning our instruments. He plucked the C string.

The door to me and Jamie's room opened and Micky staggered through, holding Jamie in his arms. He grunted for a second before stumbling down the stairs and setting her down on the couch next to me.

Mike and I made eye contact. He raised an eyebrow and shook his head before plucking the C string again and adjusting the appropriate tuning peg.

The door to Emily and Kaylee's room opened and Peter stuck his head out. He had been acting as the look-out for Kaylee. When he saw Micky and Jamie, he gulped and pulled his head back inside the room, closing the door.

Mike glanced at the door and grunted, continuing to tune the C string. I sighed and strummed my ukulele.

Emily burst out of her door, trotted into the kitchen, went to the fridge, and pulled out some leftovers from the previous night. Things clinked around as she arranged them on the plate. She shot a quick look at Jamie before sighing and taking the plate back into the room, closing the door rather loudly behind her.

Mike shrugged, leaning down closer to his guitar, starting to strum chord progressions.

Micky glanced at the door.

"Hey, Squirt," he said softly, "I need to go to…"

"But Micky I need you here! What if I fall again? What if something bad happens?" Jamie shouted.

Mike cleared his throat. My eyes shot up to look at him. He jerked his head to the side before standing up, indicating that I go with him. With Micky's awkward whimper, I stood up and followed Mike out onto the beach.

Jamie's POV

I didn't mean to keep Micky away from Kaylee. I felt awful for hurting her feelings. But something inside of me wouldn't let him go. For some reason, I got panicky and nervous whenever he tried to leave.

I felt him scoop me back up in his arms as he carried me back into my room. He set me down on my bed and kneeled down next to me.

"Squirt, listen," he sighed. "I'm sorry that you got hurt. Trust me. No one feels worse about it than I do. But please don't take it out on Kaylee. She doesn't deserve it."

I knew she didn't.

"She's stealing you away from me, Micky."

I knew she wasn't.

"Jamie, I'm a big boy. I can make my own decisions."

I knew he could.

"Oh yeah because your decision to leave me alone for two hours was such a great one."

I knew he didn't mean it.

Micky stood up and ran his hand through his hair, looping one of his thumbs through his belt loop. He took several deep breaths, pacing back and forth. I could tell I had hit a nerve.

I knew I should care.

But something felt so right about not caring. About letting him hurt. I folded my arms over my chest.

Kaylee's POV

Emily handed me the leftovers from last night. I sighed, holding back tears. I needed to do my laundry. My sheets were a complete mess. I hadn't washed them in a few weeks.

Peter wrapped his arm around me as I took the plate from Emily and started eating. I didn't even know what it was. It was like my sense of taste wasn't working at all. I stared blankly at the door.

"Don't worry," Peter said softly. "It'll blow over soon."

"I hope so," I whimpered. To be honest, while I did miss Micky an awful lot, I was more upset about Jamie being mad at me. I started getting used to hearing her yell at Micky in the living room and hearing her door open and slam shut. I knew that she didn't mean to be upset with Micky. I knew that I was the main problem. She and Micky got along perfectly well without me added to the mix.

"I don't know why Jamie thinks she can act this way," Emily scoffed indignantly. "Who died and made her queen, hm?" She plopped on her bed bitterly and scowled.

"I think you're more upset about this than I am," I said, a soft smile flashing across my face for a brief moment.

"Maybe I am," Emily snorted. "She shouldn't be treating you this way. It's not fair. You and Micky are happy together. That should be enough for her. But is it? No." Emily stood back up again and paced back and forth. "The more I think about it, the angrier I get."

"Please don't be mad," I sighed. "I don't want one of my friends to be upset, let alone two."

Emily stopped pacing and looked at me. She rubbed her forehead with her fingers before walking over to the door.

"I'm going to check the mail," she said quietly, slipping outside.

I melted back into Peter's arms.

Emily's POV

No one was in the living room when I walked out, thankfully. I sighed before exiting the Pad and walking over to the line of mailboxes set into the wall. I didn't think there would be much mail, but it gave me an excuse to leave the room for a bit.

But to my surprise, there was an envelope sitting inside our box. I scooped it out and looked at the front.

"Oh my," I whispered. My name was scrawled across the envelope in cursive. I turned my attention to the return address. "Oh my," I whispered again, tearing into the envelope and removing the contents. It was a letter, folded neatly into thirds. The paper smelled like rain and freshly-cut grass, but it was perfect and unstained. I unfolded the letter and took in the familiar handwriting that marched across the page.

My knees went weak and my breath shortened.

"My God," I squeaked, barely able to catch my breath. "My God!" Tears were welling up in my eyes. I held the letter to my chest and tried to regulate my heartbeat.

It wasn't working.

Quickly, I tucked the letter into my apron pocket and hurried outside onto the beach. I had to find a secluded place to take in all of this. I walked for what seemed like forever before finding a cluster of rocks I was able to hide behind. I ducked down and retrieved the letter from my pocket.

My watery eyes scanned the page.

My darling Emily,

Too much time has passed since we last spoke. I know you've only been gone for a few months, but it feels like an eternity for me. Please know that when I tell you what I've got to tell you, it is not to entreat you to return to England. I know how happy you are when you spend time with David and I would never take that away from you.

Emily, I am writing to ask you a very important question. You know how I feel about you. You've known that for a very long time. And I believe you feel the same way, if our rendezvous in London was any indication. I love you madly, my darling. And so, I must write to you to ask you the most important question I have ever asked.

Emily Charlotte Jones, will you marry me?

I await your answer with loving anticipation.

Arthur